9.30.2009

How to make a "green" tote~

I believe in trying to go "green". I'll admit, I'm not 100% good at it, but I do try. So when I saw this idea in a magazine ages ago (sorry, I don't remember what magazine it was) I decided that I had to give it a try.

Here's how to make a great "green" tote out of an old wool sweater. (you can left click on the very ugly photo above - I took it when it was getting dark and I realized I didn't have a "before" photo to share - to enlarge it if you want to be able to read what I typed in the boxes. )

EDITED TO ADD: I've had a couple of readers that mentioned they think the article was from Country Living.

1. First find yourself a wool sweater. I haven't worn the sweater that I used for my tote in probably 10 years, but I still liked it and always knew I'd find something to do with it.

2. Wash the sweater in hot water and then dry on a high heat setting. This will cause the sweater to shrink and will felt the wool.

3. Then cut the sweater as shown on the photo above.

4. Fold the sweater so the side seams are now in the front and back. (The felting will cause the seams to be much less obvious)

5. Turn the cut sweater inside out and sew the bottom closed.

6. Fold the cut edges over and hem.

VOILA! A recycled wool tote that will look great all through the fall and winter.

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comments:

Looks great! I saved this idea from that magazine too! I think it was Country Living... I had planned on making them for Christmas gifts for all the girls in my family, but didn't get it done last year, so maybe this year it will happen! Thanks for the reminder! :)

I love it! It looks amazing, and I'd never in a hundred million years guess (looking at the "after" picture) that it originated from a wool sweater! I.AM.SO.MAKING.THIS! Thank you SO much for sharing this! I am so excited, and where is a wool sweater around here?!

Now THAT looks fantastic. I tried felting for the first time earlier this summer when I made some wool dryer balls. Now I'm interested in felting all kinds of things, I'll have to give this one a try even if there IS sewing involved. :)

Beautiful! You could also take part of the collar (especially from turtle necks) or sleeve and make a small pocket inside or outside the bag for cell phone or keys... the little things that get lost in a big bag! =)

I have a beautiful full length chocolate brown wool coat (from my living n Utah days...after 9 years in the greater Phoenix area I think it is time to part with it...) Do you think this could be done with that kind of wool?? I have been racking my brain for a project with said wool coat. I am thinking me and some special people could use one for Christmas! A coat should make a couple bags, right?

I was working on this last week. My problem is that I can't get my felted wool to advance under the needle. It's too thick! Is there a way to change the height of the presser foot on a sewing machine (not just lift it up and down but raise it for this project)? Otherwise, I may have to hand sew it and I don't think it'll be as strong. I've read my manual and looked online but nothing so far.

I have a cheapie Singer Simple machine...$99 special from Wally World. I'm a fairly new sewer so this is new to me.